Crazy for the Boss (Crazy in Love Book 1)

by Ashlee Mallory

  “Oh. I was over that a long time ago. Really. I made no secret of the fact that I was going to leave Eureka and go away to college. I knew that Dan was sticking around. We were on borrowed time anyway.”

  “Yes, maybe. But every minute of that time with you should have been cherished and appreciated. Not wasted on someone like Shelby.” Because as much as Quinn was “fine” now, back in high school, when everything was more dramatic and scrutinized, having your best friend and boyfriend hooking up behind your back could not have been easy. “You’re way too good for him. For both of them.”

  She seemed surprised at his comment before her lips twisted into a smile. “Thank you.” She considered something for a minute, and he waited, the grinding sound of their feet over salted concrete filling the air. “I guess I also shouldn’t have been too surprised. I mean, back then, when Shelby and I walked into the room, it was usually Shelby who drew people’s attention with her open, assertive manner. She was the fun one. I was more…cautious. Reserved. I suppose I should be glad that at least Dan didn’t throw it all away on some one-night stand. That they actually seemed to be a better fit than I ever envisioned.”

  “If you mean a better fit in that they’re two of the phoniest people I’ve met—and that says a lot, for me—then I suppose you’re right.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.” She kept walking, quiet again.

  It bothered him knowing that some faithless dipshit like Dan had been able to hurt someone as strong and resilient and loyal like Quinn. It made him wonder if that guy was to blame for the fact that Quinn seemed almost afraid to give her heart to anyone since then.

  “I mean it,” he repeated. “You could do better than Dan. You have a lot to offer someone, Quinn. Any guy would be lucky to have your love.”

  She laughed suddenly, shaking her head. “Things must have looked worse than I thought if I’m getting a pep talk from you.”

  He grinned and turned his attention toward the lake, where a low, thick mist hung over the water, making it impossible to see the other end.

  “What about you?” she asked. “I mean, sure, you’ve dated a lot of women—and I use the word ‘women’ loosely since I’m sure a couple of them were barely legal—but has there ever been anyone you’ve been serious about? Who you thought just might be the one?”

  “The one? As in, anyone I could see spending the rest of my life with?” He pretended to consider that. “I’m afraid not. Why have one when the whole world is out there for the taking?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m serious, James. There’s never been anyone?”

  “I’m afraid that finding someone, putting down roots, is something that would only please my grandfather. And that’s the last thing I’d ever want to do.”

  “So you don’t ever want to get married, maybe have a family?” She didn’t sound shocked or outraged, however. Just curious.

  He shrugged. “To tell you the truth, the thought of just one person, the whole now-and-forever thing, has had zero appeal for me.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re one of those jaded self-important people who thinks there’s no such thing as love and marriage and happily ever after.”

  “Not at all. I’m a big believer that there can be forever and happily ever after…for the right people. I just have never been one of those people. I’ve always liked my freedom, my independence.”

  At least…until recently. James couldn’t deny that there was a certain appeal to finding someone—someone who challenged him as much as made him smile—to make a go of things. Someone who, up till now, he had never thought existed.

  Quinn laughed. “Marriage, love, commitment…they’re not exactly a death sentence.”

  Time to turn the spotlight to someone else, as right now, he wasn’t ready to analyze his sudden change in heart. “So are you saying that you would like to get married? Because if so, you might actually have to go out on a date every once in a while.”

  “I’ve dated.”

  “Yes, Chuck, as we’ve well established. And Dan, and I imagine a few other boring guys in between there. But how about someone who, when you’re around him, makes your hands sweat and your heart race and any coherent thought flies out the window? Who smiles at you and your whole world seems to tilt and you’re left trying to catch your bearing? Who you wake up thinking about and go to bed thinking about, not just because you want to kiss him and touch him and see his face alight with desire and happiness and pleasure but because you want to hear every thought that goes on his mind? Every opinion and feeling?”

  Hell. Where the hell had that come from? He sounded like Emily freaking Dickinson.

  It also seemed to be hitting home for him.

  Quinn glanced at him with a funny expression before tilting her head back so the streetlights shone dimly across her face. “You know, I’m already feeling better. Why don’t we head over to Crawley’s? I know I could certainly use a drink or two. You game?”

  “I’m game for anything.” And a few drinks that would help him forget the ridiculous comments he’d just made.

  And the lovely face that had appeared in his mind as he recited them.

  Chapter 16

  An hour later, Crawley’s was near capacity as every available seat in the house was occupied. Quinn and James had initially congratulated themselves on finding a table large enough to seat them along with Sabrina and her two friends, Bridget and Lindsey, who’d arrived a few minutes after them.

  But she was soon questioning the wisdom in that when, shortly after the first round arrived, Sabrina decided that a game of “Never have I ever” was a good way to start off the night.

  However, despite her initial protests, Quinn had to admit she’d been having a lot of fun. In fact, as prudish as Quinn had thought herself to be, she’d managed to have already consumed enough beer—and a shot of tequila—during the game to have her convinced everything was absolutely hilarious.

  Their waitress set two more pitchers of beer on the table and smiled that come-hither smile James’s way before leaving.

  Okay. Maybe not everything was hilarious.

  “All right,” Bridget said after everyone’s drinks were refilled. “My turn. Let’s see…” She held her glass up. “Never have I ever…gone to law school.”

  Damn. Another one for her.

  Quinn grabbed her full glass and took a drink, relieved that the strong brew that had once wrinkled her nose with the flavor was going down a lot easier by her third glass.

  From the corner of her eye, she caught James smiling as he shook his head at her sister and friends, who were barely restraining their glee.

  Only then did the truth finally dawn on her.

  “Hey. Have you been tricking me into drinking this entire time?” she asked, now remembering all the previous proclamations of never doing things like riding on a private plane or having a 4.0 GPA, being class valedictorian, all of which Quinn had obviously admitted to doing.

  This time the laughter erupted. “Man, you were too easy,” Sabrina said.

  “Cheap play. And you couldn’t have warned me?” she asked James, who was lounging comfortably in his chair, the red flannel shirt her mom had found for him opened up three buttons to reveal his white T shirt and a hint of tanned skin.

  He grinned, something entirely too dangerously appealing. “I was trying to see how long it would take you to catch on.”

  Somehow he made lumberjack sexy. Or was it the beer? Damn. He couldn’t look at her like that, especially when her defenses were down.

  “That’s it. My turn.” Payback time. Quinn cleared her throat before turning toward her sister. “Never have I ever…flirted with a cop to get out of a ticket.”

  She didn’t add that she’d never actually been pulled over by a cop… Maybe she’d save that one for later.

  Quinn looked around the table, satisfied to see every last one of them having to take a drink—James, too. He’d kept up with them, drink for drink, but he didn’t seem to be even ha
lf as affected. She shook her head. Figures. Nothing could take the polish off this Adonis.

  “Okay. I’m up.” James drummed his fingers on the table as he studied each of them. His lips turned up into a wide smile. “Never have I ever…fallen in love at first sight.”

  Had she ever fallen in love at first sight? She smiled back at him, not even reaching for her glass. The rest of the women all took a drink, Sabrina included, who wiped her mouth before studying the two of them with a faintly alarming gleam in her eyes.

  Fortunately, it wasn’t her sister’s turn; it was Lindsey’s, who was now pointedly staring at Bridget. “Never have I ever read my boyfriend’s texts.”

  “Fine,” Bridget said, not appearing the least contrite as she took a drink. “But let me say, it was certainly worth discovering what a two-timing asshat he was.”

  That’s right. Bridget almost married her two-timing asshat.

  Although Quinn had never gotten as close to being engaged to Dan, contrary to her assertions to James that she’d always known breaking up with her high school sweetheart was inevitable, she’d actually hoped on some level that maybe, somehow, things would work out.

  Quinn only wished she’d seen the truth of Dan’s infidelity by reading some texts. No, she’d gotten the truth up close and personal when she actually walked in on the two that night in the locker room. It was an image of pink and taffeta that was impossible for Quinn to ever forget.

  “Yeah. Men suck,” she threw out and took another drink, even though she didn’t need to.

  “I’ll try not to take offense,” James said.

  She waved her hand. “You know what I mean.”

  “Okay, Sabrina, you’re up,” Lindsey said.

  “Let me think a moment here,” Sabrina said, an all-too-mischievous gleam in those eyes as she continued to stare at Quinn.

  Sabrina, under any circumstance, liked to stir up trouble—especially when it came to her sister, who she thought needed to relax more and have some fun. Sabrina on alcohol took that mischief level up by a hundred. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, coming here with her tonight.

  But it was too late now, as Sabrina grinned like the Cheshire cat. “Never have I ever…wanted to kiss my boss.”

  Quinn’s stomach bottomed out.

  Oh, dear God. She didn’t. She really hadn’t just gone there.

  Lindsey and Bridget both grabbed their drinks and threw them back, no surprise.

  Quinn had to think fast. Sabrina couldn’t possibly know the salacious thoughts that had been running through Quinn’s mind tonight—okay, and before that—of James and what it would be like to kiss his perfectly shaped lips.

  However, Sabrina did know that Quinn had suffered a terrible crush on her night manager at the TGI Friday’s she’d worked in college, which was probably why she’d used that particular question. Quinn’s face was growing warmer as she felt every set of eyes at the table on her.

  Damn her sister. She was going to totally have to get back at her for this one.

  Quinn reached out and grabbed her beer, draining her glass. She needed the cool liquid to help decrease the temperature flooding her face.

  She set the glass down, finally prepared to meet James’s gaze. His right eyebrow was cocked, and he was looking at her with the widest, most arrogant smile she’d ever laid eyes on.

  “Tell me. Was he—or she—anyone I know?” From his tone, there was no denying that he totally believed it was him.

  Rightfully so.

  Not that she’d admit that so blatantly. Still…

  Her head was swimming, and the delicious effects of her tipsiness made her suddenly bold—or stupid, were she sober. Instead of correcting him, she shrugged and smiled slyly. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

  Sabrina and the girls chortled while James slightly nodded, as if to say touché. Quinn tried to ignore the flips her stomach was doing.

  Where the heck had that come from? This flirty little banter?

  Wait. She was overthinking this. Something that another glass of beer would help resolve.

  Bridget was up again. “I have the best one. Okay, never have I ever…danced with a millionaire.”

  No surprise, James was the only one taking a drink after that one.

  “No way,” Bridget said, standing up a little unsteadily, throwing her red hair over a shoulder. “We are rectifying this right now. Come on, James.”

  James, however, was still watching Quinn, almost expectantly. It took her a moment to realize he was waiting to get her okay.

  “Go,” she said and laughed.

  Besides, it would be good to have a break from the game to catch her breath. Have another drink… She ground her teeth together, surprised at how numb they felt. Did they always feel like this?

  “No way, we’re all going to take this one. Come on,” Sabrina said, pulling on her arm. “Up, Quinn.”

  And whether it was the alcohol that had weakened her usual inhibitions or the strange heady feeling she was experiencing in James’s company, or both, Quinn came to her feet and joined the four on the dance floor.

  Another couple of hours—and pitchers of beer—later, James made the authoritative decision to call it a night. Especially after, for the third time, he had to step in between Quinn and some half-wit asshole who was trying to get a little too…hands on, on the dance floor. For a line dance, for crying out loud.

  After seeing that Bridget and Lindsey made it to Bridget’s brother’s place just two blocks away, James drove Quinn and Sabrina home.

  The two women giggled as they remembered several moments from earlier in the night, the sound of their laughter bringing a smile to his lips. James had had fun tonight, more fun that he’d have thought hanging around with four beautiful women whom he was prohibited from flirting with.

  Quinn had enjoyed herself, too, even if she was going to be paying for it dearly in the morning.

  “That one just might make it into my next story,” Sabrina said, wiping a tear from her eye after the last pitch of giggles died down.

  “Into your newspaper stories?” he asked.

  This earned more laughter.

  “You gotta let me tell him, Sabrina,” Quinn said.

  “Tell me what?”

  “I guess he’s earned the truth. Let’s just say that writing small-town stories for a small-town newspaper doesn’t exactly pay the bills…” Sabrina began.

  “Wait,” Quinn interjected. “To be fair, you could quit that job anytime you want. We both know that now it’s just your cover for your real job. Something I think it’s time to come clean about. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

  “Well, you’re one to talk, seeing as how, even after a year, you haven’t told Mom and Dad the truth about—”

  Whatever she was going to say was stopped by Quinn’s elbow in her gut followed by Quinn practically shouting, “Sabrina writes dirty romance novels.”

  James was well aware of the fact that Quinn had cut her sister off before she could make some big revelation that Quinn wasn’t ready to share, but he decided to ignore that fact for now. “You’re a novelist, huh? Have you—”

  “Before you ask, we’re not talking about my research techniques.”

  “Fair enough. But I was only going to ask if your parents were aware that you’re a fiction writer?”

  “Not. A. Chance.”

  All too soon, they were pulling in the driveway, and the sisters pounced out of the truck and raced for the door like they were teenagers, slipping in the snow as they went. He dodged a snowball as he unlocked the door before the girls ran into each other trying to be the first in the house, and the giggling started all over again.

  “Shh, you guys might want to keep it down,” he said, unsure whether he wanted a confrontation with Quinn’s dad, who would probably not take too nicely to James’s bringing home both his daughters two sheets to the wind.

  “Oh, their room is upstairs,” Sabrina said. “Once Dad’s out, he’s out for the
count. And thanks to the earplugs Mom wears to tune out Dad’s bear-like snores, she can’t hear anything. We could hold a rave down here and they wouldn’t hear a thing.”

  “And you should know,” Quinn quipped.

  They made their way to their doors, Sabrina turning in first. “Night, you two. Don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do,” she intoned before slipping into her room.

  Quinn stumbled down the dark hallway, tripping on something unseen on the floor and falling forward. But he was ready and managed to catch her before she crashed into the wall. He kept his hand around her waist, though, to keep her steady—or so he told himself. She seemed to just fit, molded to his side like this.

  With his free hand, he flipped on the light in her room, taking a moment to look around. Unlike the craft/guest room he was staying in, Quinn’s was tidy and minimalistic with just a picture or two on the walls and a few items displayed on the dresser and desk. Pictures that he would have liked to take more time to scrutinize under different circumstances.

  “I had a lot of fun tonight,” she said, her eyes barely still open. “Did you have fun, James? Did you enjoy yourself?”

  “Immensely. It’s a night I won’t soon forget.” Of that he was certain.

  “I think it’s fair to say that this event fits number two in our rules. You know, the what happens in Eureka stays in Eureka? As in, you can never talk about it ever again.”

  “Ever? Hmm. Well, in that case, I think you should answer a few questions for me before I push all the memories from my head. Such as…”

  He stopped. What was he doing?

  He had been about to ask her if she’d been talking about him when she took that drink tonight. When she’d admitted to having thought about kissing her boss.

  That would have been a mistake for so many reasons. First, he was sober, unlike Quinn, and had no excuse for crossing that line, a line that—depending on her answer—would have made things harder to walk back from. Second…he was her boss. CEO of the place where she worked, and there were just some lines he could never cross. No matter how much he wanted to.